Difference between revisions of "How to use a web browser"
From Internet User Guide
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A [[web browser]] is a software application that finds and retrieves information resources on the [[web]], and displays the retrieved information on the user's computer screen. | A [[web browser]] is a software application that finds and retrieves information resources on the [[web]], and displays the retrieved information on the user's computer screen. | ||
| − | The following discussion describes the use of [[Firefox]], because that is the browser that I prefer. Similar functions can be found in other browsers. See the [[#Summary of the browser interface]] at the bottom of this page. | + | The following discussion describes the use of [[Firefox]], because that is the browser that I prefer. Similar functions can be found in other browsers. See the [[#Summary of the browser interface|Summary of the Browser Interface]] at the bottom of this page. |
==Opening the browser== | ==Opening the browser== | ||
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The web browser provides a [[Graphical User Interface]] (GUI) for the user. The main elements of the Firefox GUI in a standard configuration are (from top to bottom): | The web browser provides a [[Graphical User Interface]] (GUI) for the user. The main elements of the Firefox GUI in a standard configuration are (from top to bottom): | ||
*'''title bar''': the blue bar across the top of the screen, indicates the title of the web page currently being viewed | *'''title bar''': the blue bar across the top of the screen, indicates the title of the web page currently being viewed | ||
| − | *'''menu bar''': contains drop-down menus (the menu bar | + | *'''menu bar''': contains drop-down menus (use the View menu to choose to hide the menu bar, in which case it is replaced by a single Firefox button in the upper left corner) |
| − | + | *'''address bar''': shows the URL of the current web page, with a separate search box to the right of it, offering a selection of [[search engine]]s (in the Chrome browser there is only one box which serves as both address bar and search box) | |
| − | *'''address bar''': shows the URL of the current web page, with a separate search box to the right of it, offering a selection of search | + | |
*'''other tool bars''' (optional): use the View menu to choose various other tool bars to show or hide | *'''other tool bars''' (optional): use the View menu to choose various other tool bars to show or hide | ||
| + | *'''tabs''': all of the open tabs are displayed in a horizontal row (you can use the View menu to move the tabs to above the address bar) | ||
*'''side bar''' (optional): use the View menu to chosoe various side bars to display or hide | *'''side bar''' (optional): use the View menu to chosoe various side bars to display or hide | ||
*'''main window''': shows the web page currently being viewed | *'''main window''': shows the web page currently being viewed | ||
